Just before Thanksgiving Clark and I planned an impromptu trip to Whistler, which is about a 4 hour drive and just around 500 miles round trip from Seattle.
We left for Vancouver around 6pm on Saturday and checked into our room on the top floor of the JW Marriott Parq Vancouver later that evening.
JW Marriott Parq Vancouver
Our evening entailed a few rounds of roulette in the hotel casino, where we tripled our money and left while we were ahead, followed by cocktails at Honey and Salt. Christmas in Mumbai is my new favorite drink for the holidays.
Cacao Bella (left) - Vodka, Creme de cacoa, chocolate, espresso, steamed milk
Christmas in Mumbai (right) - Stoli vodka, amaretto, cream, cinnamon, vanilla, chai tea
The next morning we enjoyed lox bagels and espresso in the Executive Lounge while taking in the beautiful sunrise and reading National Geographic.
Highway 99 - Sea to Sky Highway
We departed Vancouver around 9am and headed toward Sea to Sky Highway, which spans from Horseshoe Bay to Pemberton.
Along the way we stopped at a few places in Squamish, B.C.
Clark found some Northface and Oakley gear at the Whistler Backcomb Outlet store
We stopped at Walmart, where I dropped my phone in the parking lot and it stopped working day #2 of our trip. In hindsight I was grateful for the digital detox!
We stopped at the Squamish Tenderfoot Creek Hatchery, where Salmon were migrating up the serene, glassy creeks to spawn
Last, we pulled off the highway to take in the majestic views from Porteau Cove Provincial Park
Westin Resort and Spa + Whistler Village
We checked in to the Westin Resort and Spa around noon and were upgraded to a 2 bed + 2 bath suite with a full living room and kitchen. Perks of traveling during the offseason, minus the lack of snow!
From the lobby of the hotel, we strolled through art galleries from local artists, browsed the Helly Hanson Store, and refueled at KA-ZE where we had sushi. From there we took a walk through Whistler Village, enjoying the fresh air, adorable dogs, and array of shops. We bought books at Armchair Books and coffee at Moguls Coffee House.
Later that evening we took a drive through the windy roads to Pemberton, a small town just thirty minutes north of Whistler.
A few miles from Whistler is the Nordic venue of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games. We drove through the park and enjoyed the mountain views. We also stumbled upon the Ski Jumps that I remember watching during the Winter Olympics, nearly 10 years ago!
We ended our trip at Scandinave Spa, an outdoor spa tucked in the hillside of Whistler. We alternated between the hot and cold pools, reaping the benefits of hydrotherapy, followed by some time in the wood burning sauna and eucalyptus steam room. From there we drank tea and lounged in the relaxation rooms that looked out into the hillside and smelt of fresh cedar. Clark took a nap and read his new book, while I had a massage. Since the spa is open year round, I can't wait to come back in the Winter after a long day of skiing.
